Ponzi schemer's computer techs sentenced to prison

Two computer specialists for Scott Rothstein's law firm were sentenced Wednesday to 37 months in federal prison for creating a fake bank website the Ponzi schemer used to dupe his investors.

Rothstein paid Curtis Renie, his chief technology officer, and William J. Corte, a computer technician, $5,000 apiece to create a dummy version of TD Bank's website so it would show Rothstein's bank accounts bulging with up to $1.1 billion. Rothstein would use the fake website to convince potential investors that their money was secured in trust accounts.

The two computer technicians repeatedly modified the fake website at Rothstein's request, and Renie deleted the site after Rothstein's Ponzi scheme imploded in late October 2009. Prosecutors said that 42 investors lost $64 million after the dummy site was used to assure them or their representatives that their money would be safe.

Renie, 38, and Corte, 38, pleaded guilty in June in Fort Lauderdale federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a charge that can carry up to five years in prison.

Both men chose not to address the court Wednesday before U.S. District Judge William Dimitrouleas handed down their prison sentences. As family members wept, Renie and Corte were taken into federal custody.

So far six people have been sentenced for playing some role in Rothstein's criminal activities, which the disbarred lawyer ran out of his downtown Fort Lauderdale law firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler. Rothstein is serving a 50-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to racketeering, money laundering and fraud in the $1.4 billion investment fraud, the largest in South Florida history.

Attorneys for Renie and Corte argued the two men had no idea how Rothstein was using the fake website, and they were simply employees doing work for a boss heading the hottest law firm in South Florida.

"[Corte] was manipulated by the master manipulator," said Carl Lida, one of Corte's attorneys.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Kaplan argued that when Rothstein asked Corte and Renie to create the fake website in December 2007, they initially said they couldn't. When Rothstein offered them money, that's when Corte told Renie he could create the fake site, Kaplan said.

After completing the site, Corte sent an email to Rothstein stating that Project "Shock and Awe" was finished, wrote federal prosecutors in court documents.

Dimitrouleas said the evidence clearly showed Renie and Corte were aware the website was being used to trick investors.

Renie, of Fort Lauderdale, and Corte, of Plantation, have cooperated with federal investigators. The five Rothstein associates arrested to date have all negotiated deals with prosecutors. The law firm's chief operating officer, Debra Villegas, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while former law partner Howard Kusnick received a two-year sentence and Rothstein associate Stephen Caputi got a five-year term.

Alvin Entin, one of Corte's attorneys, said his client agreed to the plea deal rather than risk facing a conspiracy to commit racketeering charge that could carry up to 20 years in prison upon conviction.

"I would sure hate to be in the next wave," said Entin, observing his client was a minor player compared with those who had insider knowledge of Rothstein's criminal activities.

Prosecutors indicated in June they were moving toward a "multi-defendant" indictment within the next six months.